Flu Vaccine And Pregnancy

Flu season is upon us. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there were 40 million cases of influenza last year with 970,000 people hospitalized. We receive a lot of questions on the flu vaccine and pregnancy? Pregnant women and those contemplating or attempting pregnancy should get the flu shot due to the high complication rate associated with the flu if you are pregnant. The flu can be insidious because you can feel mildly ill in the beginning and all of a sudden you crash.

The CDC now recommends that virtually everyone 6 months of age or older get a flu vaccine at the beginning of every flu season. There are many more flu vaccine options available and places to get them this year than last year. Vaccine options include the traditional intramuscular injection, an intradermal shot with a smaller needle, nasal spray, an egg-free vaccine for those with egg allergies, and a high dose vaccine for use in the elderly. The flu shot is safe during all trimesters of pregnancy, although, the nasal spray is not recommended during pregnancy.

Remember there is a simple way to diminish the chance of getting the flu or suffering the worst complications form the disease: Get a flu shot.